Karla Karch has been a dedicated leader at Mount Royal University since 2005, initially overseeing the Athletics department and, since 2017, serving as Director of Cougars Athletics and Recreation.
A former varsity student-athlete, Karch began her collegiate career at the University of Calgary before transferring to the University of Victoria, where she completed her post-secondary education. She went on to play professional basketball in Europe for nine years, competing in Germany, Hungary, and Belgium, and capturing national championships in both Hungary and Germany.
Karch’s distinguished athletic career spans more than 15 years with Canada’s national team, during which she competed in over 150 international events, including World Championships, FISU Games, Pan American Games, Olympic qualifiers, and the 1996 and 2000 Summer Olympics. She has been recognized for her achievements with induction into the University of Victoria’s Wall of Fame as a member of the 1984–85 women’s basketball team.
In addition to her playing career, Karch has made significant contributions as a coach. She has served as an assistant coach at numerous post-secondary institutions and spent four years with the Basketball Alberta provincial program, highlighted by a gold medal at the 2009 Canada Summer Games. Her coaching accomplishments were further acknowledged through her induction into the ACAC Hall of Fame with Concordia University.
Karch also maintains a strong connection to FISU, having represented Canada three times as an athlete and twice as a member of the mission staff, including serving as Chef de Mission in 2025.
